Beyond the Resume Podcast with Sydne Garchik (Raising the bar on Resident Impact)
👀 YouTube: https://youtu.be/PkVVUsrA_Rs • 👂 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/35ZJGLT
In this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Lisa Flicker and Chris Papa sit down with Sydne Garchik, Founder and President of MRK Partners, for an honest, fast-paced, and often hilarious conversation about building a national affordable housing company while raising a family and disrupting industry norms.
Sydne shares how she transitioned from her first job as an admin at Standard Communities to launching MRK Partners with a preservation-first strategy, a belief in people, and a commitment to financing the complex deals no one else wants to touch. From partnering with faith-based groups to launching a nonprofit with her husband, Sydne shows how MRK is not only building quality housing — but building community, connection, and measurable outcomes that matter.
Chapters
(01:38) – Launching MRK: Why Culture Comes First
Sydne explains why being a mom and a woman shaped her approach to founding a mission-driven firm.
(04:30) – Admin to Entrepreneur: A Nonlinear Leap
The early days of her career, her time with Standard, and the leap into starting something bold.
(07:47) – Why She Prioritizes Impact Over Profit
Sydne talks about the role of empathy, her instincts, and the deep-rooted desire to help others.
(10:05) – How Her First Deal Started with Family
The creative and personal story behind her very first affordable housing project.
(12:34) – Doing Hard Things: Conversions, Construction & Complexity
Office-to-housing conversions, faith-based land deals, and the joy of solving messy problems.
(14:16) – What Policy Could Actually Make a Difference
Sydne’s take on tax exemptions, bond reform, and where housing policy really needs to go.
(16:27) – Hiring with Heart, Leading with Mission
Why MRK only hires people aligned with its vision — and what she looks for in every interview.
(19:27) – Resident Services, Real Results
How MRK and its nonprofit Bloom support financial literacy, connection, and holistic wellness.
(25:52) – Scholarships, Support, and Sydne’s Favorite Calls to Make
From seniors to students, Sydne shares what it’s like to call residents and say, “You got it.”
Top 5 Quotes from the Episode:
“I don’t wake up thinking about profitability — I wake up thinking about impact.”
– Sydne Garchik
“We just push forward. Because getting to the result is more important than being right.”
“We’re really good at complicated financing — that’s what sets us apart.”
“If you’re not aligned with our mission, you shouldn’t be at MRK.”
“Affordable housing is for nurses, teachers, baristas. It’s for everyone in your community.”
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Links
YouTube: https://youtu.be/PkVVUsrA_Rs
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/35ZJGLT
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9
Web: https://www.jacksonlucas.com/podcast/sydne-garchik